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stellahadz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The setting, characterization, story, and pacing were all great. The mystery was very well-crafted and I loved how detailed it was - nothing felt out of place, and I could picture every moment of the story so well. It was Dead Poets Society meets How to Get Away with Murder meets the Serial podcast. I liked that Bodie wasn't a perfect person; she made a lot of incredibly foolish decisions, but they all made sense in the context of her character, and I think those decisions were supposed to be a cautionary tale about the danger and confusion of latching onto a certain narrative in true-crime cases.
Overall, I would recommend this book, but I would also advise people to a) check the content warnings and b) go in with as few expectations as possible - not because it's not good, but because it doesn't fit perfectly into either the box of "beach read thriller" or "scathing, in-your-face social commentary." It was one of those books that made me think and feel, and that I was sad to finish.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Eating disorder, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
laurenisallbooked's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed the murder mystery, and kept coming back to this book for the plot. I appreciated the way Makkai connected this narrative to other, real-world stories of violence against women, sexual assault, and murder. I also appreciated the critiques of the legal system and noting it's inherent, structural and systemic injustices.
What's as perfect as a girl stopped dead, midformation? Girl as blank slate. Girl as reflection of your desires, unmarred by her own. Girl as sacrifice to the idea of girl.
I think the book was trying to do too much. It felt 100 pages too long and also unfinished. The character development of our narrator felt unfinished (we learn about the tragedies of her father and brother, but we don't see a lot of the ripples of how that affected her, other than in the men she dates đź‘€). There were some side characters who were built up and then didn't go anywhere or contribute to the plot or ambiance. The chapters where the narrator imagines how the murder happened paid off in the end, but could have been strengthened with fewer suspects.
Overall, not my favorite Makkai but an enjoyable read while it was happening.
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
katiecat22's review against another edition
4.5
sarah_brant's review against another edition
4.0
We follow a middle aged women, Bodie Kane, as she is transported back to her boarding school where she is faced with confronting the death of her roommate from 2osome years ago. Bodie begins to question what if they put the wrong man in jail all those years ago? I loved this fictional take and commentary on true crime. When she starts looking, she falls into the world of investigating what happened to Thalia all those years ago while also dealing with her own life.
mobaconplz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
patsyv59's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
3adeleine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
samanthamccabe_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sareeta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism, Self harm, Blood, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic